reeves hill windfarm

Climate Change

Most climatic scientists agree that human activity, mainly from burning fossil fuels, has increased global warming within the last 50 years...

Greenhouse gases trap the sun's rays causing the earth's surface to heat up, "between 2000 and 2005, emissions grew four times faster than in the proceeding ten years" (Source: The Global Carbon Project)

A rise in temperature by only two degrees is predicted to have the following consequences within the UK:

Severe loss of land due to rising sea levels, most pronounced in the South of the country
Droughts in the South would be likely to become severe, hotter summers would mean an increase in demand for water, exacerbated by advanced evapotranspiration from reservoirs
The North of England is predicted to suffer both wetter summers and winters, heavily impacting crop production
All parts of the country are expected to experience increased chances of severe weather, including storms and flash flooding
The above changes in our climate would affect the majority of the UK's wildlife resulting in; disrupted breeding, hampered migrations and an increase in disease transmission

Action is needed now if we are to reduce emissions at the least cost to society. It has been shown that delaying the onset of cuts in emission reductions will mean that far greater cuts will have to be made in later years. To ensure a given atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide is not exceeded it has been estimated (Malte Meinshausen) that cuts of 14% now would have the same effect as a 31% cut implemented after 10 years.

Climate Change and the Law

The EU Climate and Energy package, formally agreed in April 2009, commits the EU to achieving a reduction in EU greenhouse gas emissions of 20% by 2020, increasing to up to 30% in the event of an international agreement on climate change, compared to 1990 levels. The package includes a binding renewables target of 20%. The UK's share of this target is to deliver 15% of all energy needs (electricity, transport, heat) in the form of renewable energy by 2020.

The Climate Change Act, which came into force in November 2008, creates a new legal framework for the UK to reduce, through domestic and international action, greenhouse gas emissions to at least 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. The Government is required to set five-year carbon budgets, which place binding limits on greenhouse gas emissions and define the trajectory towards the 2050 target. The levels of the first three carbon budgets were approved by Parliament in May 2009, and are now set in law. They require greenhouse gas emissions to be reduced by at least 34% in the third budget period (ending 2022), relative to 1990 levels.

The UK Renewable energy strategy (July 2009) sets out how we will achieve our obligations and targets.
More than 30% of our electricity generated from renewables, by 2020 up from about
5.5% today.
Benefits;

This Strategy will help us tackle climate change, reducing the UK's emissions of carbon dioxide by over 750 million tonnes between now and 2030.
It will also promote the security of our energy supply, reducing our overall fossil fuel demand by around 10% and gas imports by 20-30%
Create up to half a million more jobs in renewable industries
Modeling suggests that renewables could provide more than 30% of our electricity (compared to around 5.5% today); more than two-thirds of this could come from on and offshore wind.